Rod mill repeating apparatus



ROD MILL REPEATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 15, 1964 N m M RE 0V m w 6 W NM I M [L 4 Wk E H M A Q Em Q m m 4 W G 9 m 2 Y h B I M n e mm 0 i .wm N

mm 2 WV ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1968 e. E. SEVERSON 3,

ROD MILL REPEATING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 20

Jan. 16, 1968 G. E. SEVERSON 3, 3

ROD MILL REPEATING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet FIG. 2b

Jan. 16, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 15, 1964 R m mu m T M N S 1 R W m E W W M O fly Y B r hm .J/ w v mm Jan. 16, 1968 G. E. SEVERSON ROD MILL RE PEATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 15, 1964 INVENTOR. GEORGE ELMER SEVERSON Maj/Q4. w

ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,363,443 ROD MILL REPEATING APPARATUS George Elmer Severson, Great Falls, Mont., assignor to Anaconda Wire and Cable Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 15, 1964, Ser. No. 382,838 Claims. (Cl. 72-430) This invention relates to rod mill repeating apparatus and more particularly it relates to apparatus for receiving a rod as it is fed out of a first rod mill and arcuately guiding it into a second rod mill.

The standard method for forming rods involves continuously feeding an elongated rod through a series of tandemly arranged rod mills while maintaining the rod red-hot. In this type of mill arrangement, rolling mills which are adapted to successively reduce the rod size are positioned side-by-side so that the rod is reduced from its original size to the desired final size in the number of passes required. Between each pass the leading end of the advancing rod must be arcuately guided through a substantially semicircular path and fed back into the next succeeding mill in the series. The only successful method for guiding the rods between successive passes is the very one which has been used since the creation of the repeating rod mill arrangement; namely, the leading end of the rod mill is manually caught by an operator as it feeds out of a first rod mill, and the operator then quickly spins and inserts the leading end of the rod into the next successive rod mill in the arrangement. Because of the speed at which the rod feeds out from the rod mill, as well as the red-hot state of the rod, there is a degree of skill and danger involved in this repeating operation which has long demanded the need for a mechanical means to accomplish this repeating operation.

A wide variety of mechanical devices have been devised to effect this seemingly simple operation of guiding the leading end of the rod through its arcuate path and inserting it into the roll dies of the next succeeding mill. Of all the different repeating devices which have been developed none have gained Wide acceptance in the art because they have not been able to accurately guide the rod from one pass to the next and consistently position the rod into the rolling dies with the degree of reliability required. The necessity that any device which is to be used as a repeater in such rod mills to be substantially foolproof is an important one. The rods which are being fed through the mills are red-hot and after several passes have an extended length. Upon issuing from one pass in the repeating rod mill, it is important that the rod be immediately fed into the next pass, for if the rod is allowed to cool it cannot be rolled properly and if too great a length of the rod is allowed to issue from the rod mill before it is inserted into the next mill, the extended length of rod will become too unwieldy to handle. Therefore, it can be seen that if the repeating apparatus fails to insert the leading edge of the rod into the next succeeding rod mill the rod will continue to spill out onto the floor of the mill and will become cooled. This rod in its unfinished state cannot practically be reheated and fed into the mill again; it must be scrapped.

Perhaps the major obstacle in designing a repeating apparatus which can effectively guide rods from one mill to the next successive mill lies in the differences in linear speed at which the rod is fed out of and into the next successive mills. It must be understood that a rod undergoes considerable elongation during one pass through the rolls and, therefore, the linear speed at which the rod issues from the rod mill greatly exceeds the speed at which it is fed into this same rod mill. Then, when the rod is fed through the next rod mill, it is fed at a much lower rate than the rate at which it is advancing from the preced- 3,363,443 Patented Jan. 16, 1968 ing rod mill. This means that the leading edge of the rapidly advancing rod must be carefully guided in an arcuate path, and often rotated 90 as it is being so guided, and when it is fed into the dies of the rolls of the next succeeding pass it must be properly positioned therein so that the rod will be inserted in the slower rotating rolling dies of the second rod mill.

The apparatus of the present invention is designed to guide the leading edge of a rapidly advancing rod in an arcuate path from a first rod mill and position it accurately into a second rod mill, and it has been found that this apparatus consistently positions the leading end into second rod mill without failure and it is being used with great success in repeating rod mills. The apparatus consists basically of an arcuate guide channel having a first inlet section which converges from a relatively wide open end to a narrower channel opening for receiving the leading end of the advancing rod and guiding it into the channel. A substantially C-shaped arcuate middle section is connected to the first section for receiving the rod as it advances through the first section. The C-shaped section has an inner curved member and an outer curved member with the outer curved member being mounted to move relative to the inner curved member to open and close the channel at its outer periphery. Lifting means are provided for moving the outer curved member away from the inner curved member. An outlet section is in communication with the arcuate channel and converges to a smaller channel opening than the arcuate channel for receiving the rod as it advances from the arcuate channel and guiding it to the second rod mill. Sensing means are positioned in the channel at the outlet section which is in the path of travel of the advancing rod so as to sense the leading end of the rod as it approaches the second mill. A switch is connected to the sensing means for actuation upon sensing the rod to lift the inner curved member away from the inner portion to open the outer periphery of the channel and permit the slack of the advancing rod to freely spread outwardly from the channel. The apparatus of the invention is particularly characterized by the individual sections being adjustable relative to each other so as to vary the arc and position the inlet and outlet sections in precise relationship with the successive rod mills. The apparatus also preferably includes a twist guide at the inlet section to rotate the rod 90 as it is fed through its arcuate path. Guide rollers are also strategically positioned both in the outer portion of the C-shaped arcuate middle section and in the respective inlet and outlet sections so as to provide ease of movement of the rod as it travels its arcuate path.

. As will be seen the apparatus is designed to position the inlet and outlet sections accurately and provide an effortless path for the rod through its arcuate traverse. It also provides a separate C-shaped middle section which will immediately be separated as the leading end of the rod is adjacent the outlet section. The sensing means 7 detects the rod at this point and actuates the switch which in turn is connected with the means for lifting the outer porion of the arcuate middle section so as to open the outer periphery of the arcuate channel, and allow the slack in the rod to spill out onto the surface designed to receive this'slack.

A preferred embodiment is described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the repeating apparatus in operation immediately after the leading edge of the rod has been inserted into the second rod mill;

PIGS. 2a and 2b comprise a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the channel closed;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation partly in section taken along the line of 33 of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation partly in section of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 with the arcuate channel in its open position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the outlet section of the apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a continuation of the side elevation of FIG. 5 at the end of the outlet section.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b the rod mill repeater apparatus 10 is basically arcuate in shape with an inlet section 11 adjacent a first rod mill 12 and an outlet section 13 adjacent a second rod mill 14. Connected to the inlet section 11 and the outlet section 13 and in communication therewith is a C-shaped middle section 15. The inlet, outlet and middle sections define an arcuate guide channel 16 through which a rod 17 will be guided from the first rod mill 12 to the second rod mill 14. The inlet, outlet and middle sections are supported on suitable mounting members 18, 19 and 20 which are firmly positioned on the floor adjacent the rod mills and support the sections spaced from the floor. Two of these mounting members 18 and 19 have an adjustable height so that the guide channel 16 can be canted relative to horizontal shown as in FIG. 1 and the inlet section 11 will be a substantial distance higher than the outlet section 13. This is due to the positioning of the successive rod mills in which the inlet of each successive rod mill is lower than the outlet of the preceding rod mill.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 2a, and 2b positioned between the inlet section 11 and the rod mill 12 is a twist guide 21. The twist guide 21 is comprised of a receiving tube 22 which is open at the outlet of the rod mill 12 and receives the leading end of the rod as it first emerges from the mill to guide it through the twist guide. At the outlet end of the receiving tube are a pair of rollers 23; these rollers are slightly spaced apart and define a nip therebetween which can be positioned at an angle to horizontal so that the generally rectangular shaped rod will have a twist imparted to it as it is fed into the inlet section and thereby during its traverse through the arcuate channel it will be rotated 90. An enlarged cylindrical member 24 is mounted on the outlet end of the receiving tube to support the rollers 23. Since it is desirable to provide an arrangement which permits the rollers to be rotatable so that the nip can be varied in its angular orientation, a peripheral ring 25 is mounted about the cylindrical member 24 and the ring is mounted within a slot 25a provided in frame 26. By this arrangement the cylinder is rotatable and slideable in the frame to vary the position of the twist guide.

The inlet section is comprised of a trough-like inlet member 27 having a relatively wide open end with the sides of the member converging to a narrower opposite open end. The inlet member 27 is mounted on the supporting member 20 by means of the fastening elements 28 shown in FIG. 1. A plate 30 is positioned on the mounting member 20 and extends laterally outward to an extent greatly in excess of the width of the member 27. A pair of laterally elongated slots 31 are provided in the plate 30. Mounted on the plate 30, between it and the end portion of the member 27, is an intermediate plate 32. The intermediate plate has four peripherally spaced curved slots 33 through which the fastening elements 28 extend. By this construction the fastening elements 28 can be loosened and the inlet section can be varied in its lateral position by sliding it on the plate 30 and the arcuate slots through which the fastening elements 28 extend in the intermediate plate 32 will permit limited rotational movement which may be necessary due to the lateral shifting of the inlet section.

Connected to the outlet end of inlet member 27 of the inlet section is the C-shaped arcuate middle section 15. The middle section 15 defines the curved portion of the channel 16 and is formed from four major members. The bottom and the inner side wall of the arcuate middle section 15 are defined by a pair of inner curved members 34 and 35 which are connected at one end by a pivotal joint 36. Each of the arcuate inner curved members is comprised of a base plate 37 and 37 and an upright inner side wall plate 38 and 38' integrally connected to the inner edge of its base plate 37 and 37' and extending at substantially right angles therefrom. By means of the pivotal joint 36 the radius of curvature of the middle section can be varied to obtain the best arrangement for the particular needs. The outer peripheral wall and the top portion of the arcuate middle section are defined by a pair of outer curved members 39 and 40. Each of the outer curved members has a top plate 41 and 41' of substantially the same dimensions as the base plate 37 and 37', and an outer peripheral wall plate 42 and 42' which extends at right angles from the front edge of the top plate 41 and 41'. The inner ends 42 and 42' of each of the outer curved members are positioned close to each other adjacent the joint 36 of the inner curved members, and in their closed position relative to the inner curved member define a substantially closed channel.

Mounted in the peripheral wall plates 42 and 42' and spaced about the periphery thereof are a plurality of guide rollers 43. The guide rollers are journalled in suitable brackets 4-4 attached to the outer side of the plates 42 and 42 and extend through openings 45 into the channel 16 for a limited extent. Since the rod will ride against the peripheral wall on its inside surface these guide rollers greatly facilitate the ease of movement of the rod through the channel.

It is to be noted that similar guide rollers 46 and 46 are mounted to extend into the upright inner side wall plates 38 and 38 adjacent the inlet and outlet sections respectively. Also, in the inlet section 11 there is a first guide roller 47 mounted on the base thereof and a second guide roller 48 mounted at the top portion of the inlet section adjacent to the middle section 15, which rollers cooperate to facilitate feeding the rod fully through the inlet section and into the middle section.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2a, 3 and 4 lifting means 49 and 49 are shown for lifting the outer curved members 39 and 40 away from the inner curved members 34 and 35 respectively to open the outer periphery of the channel. The lifting means for lifting only one of the inner curved members will be described since the lifting means are identically constructed. A pair of spaced upright supports 50 and 51 are securely mounted to the back of the inner curved members, and mounted in the respective top end portions of the supports is a shaft 52. The shaft 52 supports a rotatable pipe 53. Mounted on the respective ends of the pipe 53 in fixed relationship thereto are a pair of connecting plates 54 and 55 which are also fixed to the top plate 41 of the outer curved member 39. Fixed to the pipe 53 at the center thereof is an L-shaped arm 56. The end 57 of the arm 56 opposite to the end of the arm which is attached to the pipe 53 is attached to the end of a piston rod 58 of an air cylinder 59. The air cylinder is pivotally fixed at its opposite end 60 to a base support 61 of the apparatus 10.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the outer curved member 39 is in its closed position relative to the inner curved member 34, the piston rod 58 is fully extended from the air cylinder 59. By actuating the air cylinder so as to withdraw the rod 58, the arm 56 is pulled toward the cylinder causing the pipe 53 to rotate on shaft 52 and thereby causes the plates 54 and 55 to be similarly rotated. Thus, the outer curved member 39 is lifted away from the inner curved member 34 and the outer periphery of the channel 16 is opened to permit the rod 17 to spread out of the channel onto receiving platform 62.

The outlet section 13 is attached to the end of the middle section 15 by means of a first pivotal joint 65 which interconnects the middle section and the outlet section on the inside of this arcuate arrangement and an adjustable second pivotal joint 66 which is attached to the middle section and outlet section on the outside of the arcuate arrangement. As shown in FIG. 5 this second joint consists of a bearing 67 which is journalled in a support 68 and has attached to the bearing 67 an elongated threaded rod 69 which can be adjustably attached to a bracket 70, which is integrally mounted on the middle section. By this arrangement the outlet section can be pivoted to vary its position in relation to the middle section and can be held in this fixed direction by the second pivotal joint 66.

The outlet section 13 provides a closed converging outlet channel 71 which is defined by converging walls 72 and 73 and a similarly converging top portion 74 and bottom portion 75. Thus, the opening in the channel 71 progressively narrows from a relatively wide opening adjacent the middle section to an opening adjacent the second mill 14 which is only slightly larger than the cross-sectional dimensions of the rod 17. It is to be noted that the rod 17 has been rotated 90 at this point. At the outlet end 76 of the outlet section adjacent the second rod mill 14 there is provided a rod positioning device 77 and a laterally adjustable mounting arrangement 78 for the outlet section. The rod positioning device 77 consists of two pairs of vertical guide rolls 79 and 80 which are longitudinally but closely spaced at the outlet end 76 of the outlet section. These pairs of guide rolls extend partially into the outlet section with each roll in the pair being laterally spaced from each other an amount only slightly larger than the dimensions of the rod. Mounted between the sets of guide rolls 79 and 80 and extending into the outlet section from the top portion 74 thereof is a guide roll 81 which is spaced from the bottom portion 75 of the outlet section an amount only slightly larger than the dimensions of the rod. By this rod positioning device 77 the rod is accurately guided and positioned to emerge from the outlet section at a fixed position which does not vary in its lateral or elevated position appreciably. This outlet end 76 of the outlet section and the rod positioning device 77 are mounted on a raised support bracket 82 which has a flat bottom section 83 that is slideably mounted on a laterally extending supporting surface 84. The supporting surface 84 is formed on a support 85 which has a series of laterally extending keyways 86. The keyways 86 are necked down to a smaller dimension at the surface 84 so as to define a shoulder 87 therein into which keys 88 having generally the same configuration as the keyway can be slid into the keyway and locked therein by the shoulder 87. By this arrangement the outlet end of the outlet section can be varied in its lateral position and locked in this position by tightly screwing the keys against the shoulder.

As shown in'FIG. 6 positioned at the outlet end of the rod positioning device 77 is sensing means for detecting the leading end of a rod, which in this embodiment is a displaceable plate 90. Other standard sensing means could be used including, of course, means which are sensitive to the heat of the rod and photo electric cells. The displaceable plate is pivotally mounted on a bearing 91 which is rotatable on a shaft 92. Extending integrally from the bearing 21 is a switch lever 93. The switch lever has a tension spring 94 attached at one end thereof which maintains'the displaceable plate 90 normally positioned in the path of travel of the rod as indicated. Mounted adjacent the lever 93 and adapted to be contacted by the lever when the displaceable plate 90 extends in the path of travel is a switch 96.

The switch 96 is operatively connected to the air cylinders 59 and 59. Therefore, once the obstruction plate is displaced, the lever 93 is lifted from the switch 96 and the air cylinders are actuated to lift the outer curved members 39 and 40 away from the respective inner curved members 35 and 36 to open the periphery of the channel so that the rod slack can spill out therefrom. As noted above, the rod emerges from the first rod mill at a much faster rate than the rate at which it is to be fed into the second rod mill 14. Therefore, once the leading end of the rod has been inserted into the second rod mill 14, the differences in rates of feed between the rod mills causes a slack of rod which must be allowed to spill out freely onto the platform 62 provided for that purpose. By opening the outer periphery of the channel 16 as soon as the end of the rod is inserted into the second rod mill, this slack is free to spill out onto the platform and will not interfere with the difierences in the rate of feed into the second rod mill.

To insure that the slack will be fed out of the channel 16 to the platform 62 and back into the outlet section 13, a pair of elongated horizontal rollers 97 and 98 positioned out beyond the periphery of the channel 16 are in direct alignment with the outlet 11 and inlet 13 sections of the apparatus so that the rod can roll freely on these rollers and spill out on the platform without obstruction. A pair of vertical rollers 99 and 100 are also positioned adjacent the rollers 97 and 93 substantially in alignment with the outer edge of the inlet section and outlet section respectively so as to prevent the rod from extending laterally outward beyond the surface and toprovide a guide surface against which the rod can ride for ease of feed out of the inlet section and into the outlet section of the apparatus.

In operation, the apparatus is first aligned in relation to two passes of a repeating rod mill. The twist guide.

21 is adjusted laterally and rotated properly to receive the rod as it emerges from the rod mill and to impart the proper twist to the rod. The inlet section 11 is shifted laterally on its supporting member 20 so that its inlet end is properly positioned adjacent the first rod mill 12 to receive the rod 17 as it is fed out of the twist guide 21. Once the inlet section is in its correct position, the outlet section must be moved in direct alignment with the second rod mill 14. This alignment of the outlet section is an important one for the success or failure of the repeating apparatus is dependent upon the proper insertion of the rod into the second rod mill. Thus, the outlet end 76 of the outlet section is aligned adjacent the second rod mill and is fixed in this position by the rod positioning device 77. Once the alignment of the inlet and outlet sections had been made, the arcuate middle section must then be adjusted to describe a smooth arcuate channel for passage of the rod. This is easily accomplished by loosening the adjustable pivotal joint 66 and then moving the inner curved members 34 and 35 relative to each other by pivoting them at their pivotal joint 36. The inner curved member 35 is also adjusted to communicate correctly with the outlet section by pivoting it about its pivotal joint 65. Finally by adjusting the height of apparatus by supporting members 18 and 19, the apparatus can be canted relative to horizontal, with the inlet section raised at a higher elevation than the outlet section to the extent necessary to feed the rod into the next successive rod mill.

Having set up the apparatus, the rod 17 is then fed through the rod mill 12. As it is fed out of the rod mill 12 it has generally a rectangular cross section with the broad faces of the rod horizontal. Of course, the side edges are generally tapered so that the cross section is not a true rectangle. The rod is fed through the receiving tube of the twist guide 21 and the inlet section into the ever narrowing channel 16 and is aided by the guide rollers 47 and 48. It then travels into the C-shaped middle section 15 and is immediately aided in its movement by the guide rollers 43 and the guide roller 46. As shown in FIG. 2a another guide roller 101 can advantageously be mounted to overlie the channel 16 by extending it through the top portion 41. A similar guide roller 102 is mounted in the top portion 41' adjacent the outlet sec tion 13. Almost as soon as the rod enters the middle section 15, two things happen to the rod. First it begins to be led in a curved path as the outer broad surface of the leading end of the rod rides against the guide rollers 43 in the outer peripheral wall plate; and secondly, as shown in FIG. 3, the twist imparted by the twist guide causes the rod to be rotated substantially 90 at this point and is retained in this position by the manner in which the outer broad surface of the rod rides against the guide rollers 43. This rotation of the rod continues and by the time it reaches the outlet section, the rod has been rotated through 90 with its broad faces vertical. The rod is assisted by the guide rollers 102 and 46 at the end of the middle section adjacent the outlet section and then is fed through the outlet section.

As the end of the rod 17 now rotated 90, is fed through the outlet section, the progressively narrowing channel 71 serves to guide the end of the rod in a straight and accurate path. Immediately before the rod emerges from the outlet section it passes through pairs of rolls 79 and 8t) and roller 81, which are spaced apart only slightly wider than the narrowest dimensions of the cross section of the rod. Thus, at this point the rod cannot vary laterally or vertically any appreciable amount.

As noted above the speed at which the leading end of the rod is travelling is much greater than the speed at which it will be drawn through the rod mill 14. Therefore the displaceable plate 90 is placed in the path of travel of the end of the rod as it emerges from the rolls 80 so that the end of the rod abuts this plate. Simultaneous with the abutting of the plate 90, the switch 96 is opened and the air cylinders 59 and 59 activated so that the outer curved members 39 and 40 are lifted and the outer periphery of the channel 16 opened. By this arrangement as the end of the rod is drawn into the rod mill with a lesser speed, the slack of the rod 17 caused by the change in rate of speed is allowed to spill out into platform 62. The horizontal rollers 97 and 98 and the vertical rollers 99 and 100 serve to guide the rod into and out of the platform. Of course, as long as the plate 90 is held down by the passing rod, the outer curved members 39 and 40 will be held away from the inner curved members 34 and 35.

It is to be noted that the vertical lifting arrangement of the outer curved members is ideal for this type apparatus. It first of all enables the outer curved members to be removed from the inner curved members more quickly than any other arrangement. The rod generally rides on the base plate and therefore, as soon as the opening at the outer periphery is made by lifting the outer curved members, the rod can spill out of the channel. This arrangement is also ideal for staggering several similar apparatuses to accommodate rod mills which are designed to feed several rods therethrough. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pivotal lifting arrangement allows the outer curved member to be lifted without substantially exceeding the height of the arm 57 in which is the highest member of the apparatus in the closed position. Thus, the plural arrangement of the apparatus could be one over the other.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for receiving a rod as it is fed out of a first rod mill and arcuately guiding it into a second rod mill comprising:

(a) an inlet section for receiving the leading end of the advancing rod as it is fed out of the first rod mill,

(b) a substantially C-shaped arcuate middle section operatively connected to said inlet section for receiving the rod as it emerges from the inlet section, said middle section having an inner curved member, and

' an outer curved member mounted to move relative to said inner curved member to open and close the outer periphery of the arcuate middle section,

(c) an outlet section operatively connected to said arcuate middle section for feeding the rod into the second rod mill, said inlet, middle and outlet sections defining an arcuate guide channel through which the rod is guided between the first and second rod mills,

(d) lifting means for moving the outer curved member upwardly away from the inner curved member,

(e) sensing means positioned in said channel at said outlet section which is in the path of travel of the advancing rod to sense the leading end of the rod, and

(f) switch means operatively connected to said sensing means and thereby actuated by said advancing rod at said outlet section for actuating the lifting means to open the outer periphery of the channel by moving the outer curved member away from the inner curved member as the rod i being inserted into the second rod mill so that the slack of the advancing rod will spread outwardly from the channel.

2. Apparatus for receiving a rod as it is fed out of a first rod mill and arcuately guiding it into a second rod mill comprising:

(a) an inlet section for receiving the leading end of the advancing rod as it is fed out of the first rod mill,

(b) a substantially C-shaped arcuate middle section operatively connected to said inlet section for receiving the rod as it emerges from the inlet section, said middle section having two inner curved members movable relative to each other to define an arc, and two outer curved members mounted to move relative to said inner curved members to open and close the outer periphery of the arcuate middle section,

(0) an outlet section operatively connected to said arcuate middle section for feeding the rod into the second rod mill, said inlet, middle and outlet sections defining an arcuate guide channel through which the rod i guided between the first and second rod mills,

(d) lifting means for moving the outer curved members upwardly away from the inner curved members,

(e) sensing means positioned in said channel at said outlet section which is in the path of travel of the advancing rod to sense the leading end of the rod, and

(f) switch means operatively connected to said sensing mean and thereby actuated by the advancing rod for actuation of the lifting means to open the outer periphery of the channel by moving the outer curved member away from the inner curved member as the rod is being inserted into the second rod mill so that the slack of the advancing rod will spread outwardly from the, channel.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein twist guide means are provided for rotating the rod as it advances through the apparatus.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said twist guide means are positioned between the inlet section and the first rod mill to impart a twist to the rod as it is fed into the inlet section.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein rod positioning means are provided at the outlet section adjacent the second mill for guiding the leading end of the advancing rod to an arcuate linear path adjacent the second rod mill.

6. Apparatus for receiving a rod as it is fed out of a first rod mill and arcuately guiding it into a second rod mill comprising:

(a) an inlet section for receiving the leading end of the advancing rod as it is fed out of the first rod mill,

(b) a substantially C-shaped arcuate middle section operatively connected to said inlet section as it emerges from the inlet section, said middle section having two inner curved members movable relative to each other to define an arc, and two curved members mounted to move relative to said inner curved members to open and close the outer periphery of the arcuate middle section,

(c) an outlet section operatively connected to said arcuate middle section for feeding the rod into the second rod mill, said inlet, outlet and middle sections defining an arcuate guide channel through which the rod is guided between the first and second rod mills,

(d) a plurality of guide rollers mounted on said outer curved members at spaced intervals and extending into said channel in said middle section to provide rollers along the inner peripheral surface against which the rod rides,

(e) lifting means for lifting the outer curved members upwardly away from the inner curved members,

(f) a displaceable member resiliently positioned in said channel at the outlet section which is mounted to be displaced out of the path of travel of the advancing rod by force of contact of the leading end of the rod, and

(g) switch means operatively connected to said displaceable member for actuation upon displacement of the displaceable member by the advancing rod for actuation of the lifting means to open the outer periphery of the channel by moving the outer curved member away from the inner curved member as the rod is being inserted into the second rod mill so that the slack of the advancing rod will spread outwardly from the channel.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 having means for laterally adjusting the inlet and outlet sections.

8. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said inner curved members are comprised of an arcuate base plate and a curved upright inner side wall plate extending from the base plate, and said outer curved members are comprised of an arcuate top plate overlying and spaced from said base plate in the closed position and a curved outer peripheral plate extending from said top plate to close the periphery of the channel in the middle section.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein cooperating guide rollers are mounted spaced outwardly from the channel on the inlet and outlet sides thereof to receive the slack of the rod and facilitate its movement out of the inlet section and into the outlet section when the channel is open.

10. Apparatus for receiving a rod as it is fed out of a first rod mill and arcuately guiding it into a second rod mill comprising:

(a) an inlet section for receiving the leading end of the advancing rod as it is fed out of the first rod mill, (b) a substantially C-shaped arcuate middle section operatively connected to said inlet section as it emerges from the inlet section, said middle section having two attached inner curved members movable relative to each other to define an arc, and two curved members mounted to move relative to said inner curved members to open and close the outer periphery of the arcuate middle section, said inner curved members having an arcuate base plate and a curved upright inner side wall plate extending from the base plate, and said outer curved members having an arcuate top plate overlying and spaced from said base plate in the closed position and a curved outer peripheral plate extending from said top plate to close the periphery of the channel in the middle section,

(0) an outlet section operatively connected to said arcuate middle section for feeding the rod into the second rod mill, said inlet, outlet and middle sections defining an arcuate guide channel through which the rod is guided between the first and second rod mills,

(d) means for laterally adjusting the inlet and outlet sections,

(e) a plurality of guide rollers mounted on said outer curved members at spaced intervals and extending into said channel in said middle section to provide rollers along the inner peripheral surface against which the rod rides,

(f) rod positioning means provided at the outlet section adjacent the second rod mill for guiding the leading end of the advancing rod to an accurate linear path adjacent the second rod mill and to maintain it in said path upon contact with said obstruction member,

(g) lifting means for lifting the outer curved members away from the inner curved members,

(h) a displaceable member resiliently positioned in said channel at the outlet section which is mounted to be displaced out of the path of travel of the advancing rod by force of contact of the leading end of the rod, and

(i) switch means operatively connected to said displaceable member for actuation upon displacement of the displaceable member by the advancing rod for actuation of the lifting means to open the outer periphery of the channel by moving the outer curved member away from the inner curved member as the rod is being inserted into the second rod mill so that the slack of the advancing rod will spread outwardly from the channel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,648,732 11/1927 Jupp et al. 72 23O 1,680,105 8/1928 Johnson 72-230 1,830,795 11/1931 Johnson 72-230 2,629,273 2/ 1953 Tener 72227 FOREIGN PATENTS 150,124 5/ 1955 Sweden. 176,529 10/ 1953 Austria.

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. H. D. HOINKES, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,363,443 January 16, 1968 George Elmer Severson It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 7, line 67, after "mounted" insert to pivot about a horizontal axis column 8, line 1, after "means" insert positioned within the arcuate middle section and between the inlet and outlet sections same line 1, for "moving" read pivoting same line 1, after "member" insert about a horizontal axis Signed and sealed this 25th day of February 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING A ROD AS IT IS FED OUT OF A FIRST ROD MILL AND ARCURATELY GUIDING IT INTO A SECOND ROD MILL COMPRISINGG: (A) AN INLET SECTION FOR RECEIVING THE LEADING END OF THE ADVANCING ROD AS IT IS FED OUT OF THE FIRST ROD MILL, (B) A SUBSTANTIALLY C-SHAPED ARCUATE MIDDLE SECTION OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID INLET SECTION FOR RECEIVING THE ROD AS IT EMERGES FROM THE INLET SECTION, SAID MIDDLE SECTION HAVING AN INNER CURVED MEMBER, AND AN OUTER CURVED MEMBER MOUNTED TO MOVE RELATIVE TO SAID INNER CURVED MEMBER TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE ARCUATE MIDDLE SECTION, (C) AN OUTLET SECTION OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ARCUATE MIDDLE SECTION FOR FEEDING THE ROD INTO THE SECOND ROD MILL, SAID INLET, MIDDLE AND OUTLET SECTIONS DEFINING AN ARCUATE GUIDE CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH THE ROD IS GUIDED BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND ROD MILLS, 